I know that I just posted . . . but then I read a wonderful essay in today’s EdWeek update. A New York teacher reflects on what she learned from using GOOD (New York Regents) tests to evaluate her students’ … Continue reading»

I spent some of my weekend grading history essays online, and the exercise left me discouraged. Over and over I encountered the same sentences, slightly and often ineptly reworded. Even without turnitin.com’s originality reports, which I of course checked, it … Continue reading»

I’ve blogged before about Rick Hess, an education scholar at the American Enterprise Institute. Here’s a link to his very intelligent take on the teacher cheating scandals that have erupted in Atlanta, Philadelphia, and D.C. … with more likely coming … Continue reading»

A Utah high school teacher — and friend – who has contributed to this blog before just sent me the following suggestions to “help establish a motivated and competent cadre of helpers who are pleased to educate children and return … Continue reading»

While Utahns have voiced their skepticism about private school vouchers at the ballot box, many Utah parents take advantage of the option to choose among public schools – at least along the Wasatch front, where there are enough schools to … Continue reading»

Today Education Week published an op-ed by Tony Bennett, Indiana’s state superintendent for public instruction and one of the most prominent proponents of radical education reform. He defends Education Secretary Arne Duncan’s proposed No Child Left Behind waivers . . … Continue reading»

I thought I might just skip the dream this year. My own students had gone back to school last Monday, and I wouldn’t see them again until the following Monday, when I showed up in their classrooms to kick off … Continue reading»

I haven’t made a secret of my view that traditional teacher preparation discourages many talented would-be teachers, not least because it requires undergraduates to give up meaty college courses for often (at least in my experience) more vacuous required education … Continue reading»

I posted several weeks ago about Education Secretary Arne Duncan’s offer to give states waivers from the No Child Left Behind Law if they could demonstrate alternative efforts to improve accountability. Today’s New York Times updates that story . . … Continue reading»

Today’s Wall Street Journal highlights a report for the U.S. Government’s National Center for Education Statistics. In case you have trouble following the link, here’s the discouraging news: “Eight states have raised their standards for passing elementary-school math and reading … Continue reading»